ArticleThe International journal on drug policy2023
Diversion of medications to treat opioid use disorder: Qualitative findings from formerly incarcerated adults in Massachusetts.
Article in The International journal on drug policy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- The impact of the communities that HEAL intervention on the provision of jail-based medication for opioid use disorder & linkage programs at release: Results from a randomized, wait-list controlled trial.Journal of substance use and addiction treatment · 2026Trial
- From Control to Care: Reframing Medication Access Policies Through Public Health Ethics.The Journal of law, medicine & ethics : a journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics · 2026Review
- Multilevel determinants of medication preferences for opioid use disorder among criminal-legal-involved populations: Insights from a scoping review.Drug and alcohol dependence reports · 2025Review
- A mixed-method exploratory assessment of provider-based stigma of opioid use disorder (OUD) and support for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in carceral settings.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
- State-Mandated Opioid Use Disorder Treatment In Maryland Jails Helped Patients Recover Despite Gaps In Care.Health affairs (Project Hope) · 2025Article
- Patient perspectives of jail based MOUD treatment: views of individuals who have returned to the community following incarceration.Health & justice · 2025Article
- Factors contributing to the expansion of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) within the New Hampshire Department of Corrections (NHDOC).Health & justice · 2025Article
- Barriers to Universal Availability of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in US Jails.JAMA network open · 2025Article
- Medication for opioid use disorder service delivery in carceral facilities: update and summary report.Health & justice · 2025Review
- Framework for opioid use disorder screening and diagnosis in carceral settings.The International journal on drug policy · 2024Article
- "Expected to happen": perspectives on post-release overdose from recently incarcerated people with opioid use disorder.Harm reduction journal · 2024Article
- A Naturalistic Study of Individuals Involved in the Justice System Who Experienced Both Formulations of Extended-release Buprenorphine.Journal of addiction medicineArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundCarceral officials often cite diversion of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) (e.g., buprenorphine) as a reason for not offering MOUD treatment in jails and prisons with little understanding of patient perspectives. We aimed to understand patient perceptions of medication diversion from jail-based MOUD programs and the factors that contribute to and reduce diversion.
methodsWe conducted thematic analyses of semi-structured interviews held in 2021-22 with 38 adults who received MOUD treatment and were released from eight Massachusetts jails that had implemented a MOUD program on or after September 2019.
resultsConsistent with prior reports from carceral staff, patients perceived MOUD diversion to happen less frequently than expected, which they attributed to dosing protocols that have effectively reduced it. Patients reported that MOUD availability reduced the contraband buprenorphine market, although other contraband substances have entered jails (fentanyl, oxycodone, K2). Patients perceived Subutex to have greater misuse potential and added diversion risks. Patients valued graduated consequences and other efforts to reduce MOUD diversion and contraband for making jails safer and for enabling patients to receive treatment. Nearly all participants reported having heard about, witnessed, or been involved in actual or attempted diversion, with variation in reports by jail. Patients suggested that dispensing MOUD to all who need it immediately upon intake would be the most effective way to reduce MOUD diversion and contraband.
conclusionFormerly incarcerated patients perceived MOUD diversion within jail medication programs as occurring less often than expected and that it can be reduced with appropriate protocols. To help limit medication diversion, patients recommended provision of MOUD upon intake to all individuals with opioid use disorder who need it. Findings have implications for MOUD program adaptation, successful routinization, and diffusion in carceral settings.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.